Defenseman Fowler gains trust of Ducks

Nov. 28, 2013

Updated 5:49 p.m.

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Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (left) passes the puck as Dallas Stars right wing Valeri Nichushkin tries to block it in Tuesday in Dallas. After four years, Fowler has finally transformed from prospect into defensive leader. TIM SHARP, AP

Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (left) passes the puck as Dallas Stars right wing Valeri Nichushkin tries to block it in Tuesday in Dallas. After four years, Fowler has finally transformed from prospect into defensive leader. TIM SHARP, AP

Cam Fowler has taken The Step. Or has he?

There is a game like the Ducks’ third-period disaster Tuesday against Dallas in which it makes you wonder. The talented defenseman had his role in it, victimized by a fourth-line Stars grinder who knocked out one of his teammates last month.

And then there are the many more that make you believe he has, once and for all, like the previous dozen or so games in which he has taken on a role that a top defenseman has, playing in every situation, producing offensively and defending just as well.

The process that takes Fowler from ballyhooed prospect to elite defenseman remains a fluid one four years into it. It is fair to wonder if it’ll ever be completed.

But Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau is a big believer that Fowler has taken that step. He is relying on the 22-year-old more than ever, because he has to and wants to.

“He’s finally grown up and now he can play defense,” Boudreau said. “And I don’t mean that in a negative way. We’re putting him out in all defensive situations, whereas in the past it would not be that way.”

Case in point: Fowler logged a season-high 29 minutes Saturday against Phoenix. He has been playing more than ever now that Francois Beauchemin and Bryan Allen are nursing injuries while Luca Sbisa and Sheldon Souray are out for long periods.

Fowler also had a recent 13-game stretch in which he had two goals and eight assists. He also had a plus-6 rating stretched over 14 games that paralleled his offensive run.

“He’s kind of taken on that role of being the go-to guy on the back end,” winger Corey Perry said. “He’s taken on that role as a leader on the defense and he’s relishing it. He’s a guy that can play a lot of minutes, and has been against the top lines.

“He’s really doing a good job for us. Between him and Lovey (Ben Lovejoy), they’ve really shut down the other team’s top lines and they’re having fun doing it.”

Confidence has always been big with Fowler, who says he feels better than ever with his game.

“Anytime you make a jump into this league, it’s obviously a learning curve,” he said. “There’s certainly ups and downs that you’re going to have. I think that’s something that everyone goes through.

“For me, I’ve been able to kind of learn from the mistakes. And I think it’s turned me into more of a complete player that’s responsible at both ends of the ice.”

Fowler is sitting with a modest plus-1 mark on his shifts at even strength. It is, however, a far cry from the minus-53 totaled over his first two seasons and even the minus-4 in 37 games of the 2012-13 lockout year.

The Ducks routinely emphasized that his play was better than the startling on-ice blemishes on his record. Players and coaches publicly expressed confidence at every turn. But the numbers inevitably seep into the mind.

As he worked to rid himself of those grisly numbers, Fowler focused so much on the defensive end that the inclinations to generate offense from the back end were no longer natural. And that isn’t him.

“Yeah, I think maybe I was a victim of that,” Fowler said. “You struggle like that your first couple of years and you see that number, it makes you want to correct that and that only. And it might take away from some of the more creative aspects of your game.

There is a more natural flow to Fowler’s game. His ability to balance both sides of his game is better than ever and the credit, he says, goes to Boudreau and his assistants for putting him in positions where he can thrive.

Trusting himself and clearing his head also helps.

“I think the last couple of years, I was overanalyzing things and I was thinking about the play before I made it,” Fowler said. “I was trying not to make mistakes. I’m a better player when I’m just going off my instincts and I’m not thinking.”

There is the carrot of a possible berth on Team USA’s Olympic men’s hockey team dangling in front of him. Fowler badly wants the chance to play in his first Winter Games and admits there’s added motivation to play well and get his name out there.

His pure skating ability and puck-moving skills can certainly be used on the big ice surface in Sochi. Boudreau is convinced that Fowler has taken a step forward, if not The Step.

“It takes a while for a defenseman in this league to get good,” he said. “This is his fourth year now. He’s starting to find his niche.”

BONINO EXTENDED

The Ducks signed versatile center Nick Bonino to a three-year contract extension. The new deal that begins in 2014-15 is worth $5.7 million, according to reports. Bonino will make $1.7 million next season, $1.9 million in 2015-16 and $2.1 million in 2016-17.

Bonino said talks with Ducks GM Bob Murray have been going on “for a couple of months.”

“Obviously both sides working towards a number,” Bonino said. “These things obviously take time. Just happy it's over. I don't have to worry about it for the next three years.”

Bonino, 25, is tied for third on the Ducks with seven goals and his 16 points ranks fourth. Not only has the Connecticut native spent time on multiple lines but his puck-retrieving ability has earned him a spot on the top power-play unit.

Boudreau said the things Bonino does aren't pretty but the contributions often go beyond the stat sheet.

“He’s very competitive,” Boudreau said. “And he wants to win. He's been part of championship teams at (Boston U.). Those are the kind of guys you can go with. He blocks shots. He'll get in the way. He'll do what it takes to win the games when he's playing.

“He doesn't look at anything else other than what do I have to do to help this team win.”

Entrenched as a regular, Bonino is averaging nearly 16 minutes of ice time and is winning 51 percent of his faceoffs this season. He already has a career high in goals and should easily double his previous point total of 18 in 2011-12, barring injury.

INJURY UPDATE

The Ducks won't have the services of injured defensemen Francois Beauchemin and Bryan Allen for at least a few more games as they head into a difficult portion of their schedule.

Both will not play in the next two games, today at home against Calgary and Saturday in San Jose. Beauchemin possibly is out for another week or more.

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